Emergency-brake-setting mechanism.



No. 653,780. Patented July I7, I900.

w. H. SAUVAGE.

EMERGENCY BRAKE SETTING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. '19, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESS: I INVENTOH W ATTORNEY Ym: ucnms PETER! co, mo-muwo msumamw. u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF TWO-THIRDS TO CHARLES C. WELCH AND HENRY NEWTON IVOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

EM ERGENCY-BRAKE-SETTING MECHANlSM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,780, dated July 1'7, 1900.

Application filed September 12,1899. Serial No. 730,276. We model.)

To all whom, it Netty concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Emergency- Brake-Setting Mechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in emergency-brake-setting mechanism.

The invention is also adapted to open a sand-box and operate the switch for cutting off the current from electric cars.

The apparatus is specially designed for use on street-cars; and its object is to make it unnecessary for the m otormau to operate a number of appliances preparatory to making an emergency stop. Under the system now in general use the motorman in order to make a stop of this character is required to drop the fender, apply the brake by turning the brakestaff, and reverse the controller to cut oif the current, making it impossible under the most favorable circumstances to make a very quick stop. In moments of danger and excitement some of these duties are usually left unperformed, and accidents often result for this reason alone. My object is to overcome these difficulties, and by means of my improved construction it only becomes necessary for the motorman to drop the fender, this being accomplished by simply pulling a hand-lever in the ordinary manner. The dropping of the fender releases a spring-actuated trigger-lever, which sets the brake, opens the sand-box, and cuts off the current from the car through the instrumentality of suitable connections.

The invention will nowbe described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

' In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a car, partly in section, pro- -elevation of the bar.

vided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, the platform and superstructure being removed to disclose the mechanism underneath. Fig. 3 shows a switch for cutting off the current, being reallya part of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a rocking ratchet-bar, shown in detail and on a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is an end Fig. 7 illustrates the bearings for the ratchet-bar journals. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the trigger-lever, shown in two positions. Fig. 10 is a cross-section taken on the line X X, Fig.8. Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate an arm attached to the fender for operating the ratchet-bar to release the triggerlever. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the mech anism for operating the fender, the parts being shown on a larger scale than in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in the views, let the numeral 5 designate two beams, forming a part of the lower framework of the car and extending beneath the platform 6. On one of these beams is fuicrumed at 7 What I will term the trigger-lever 8, one extremity of which is connected with the brake-rod 9 by a short chain 10. A chain 12 also leads from the brake-rod to the brake-staff 13, permitting the operation of the brake in the ordinary way. The length of the chain 10 is such as to permit the operation of the brake mechanism by the use of the brake-staff without interfering with the trigger-lever 8. The opposite extremity of'this lever is connected with one extremity of a small cable 14, which passes under a pulley 15, mounted on the front end beam 16 of the car, and thence upwardly over a pulley mounted on a block 17, hung on the dashboard 18 of the car, and thence downwardly, a'loop or stirrup 19 being attached to its lower extremityand adapted to receive the foot of the motorman, who sets the orig ger-lever by forcing the'stirrup of the cable downward. To the cable 19is also attached the lower extremity of a rope or small wire cable 20, which passes upwardover a pulley supported by a block 21, hung on the car, and thence to the arm 22 of a cut-out switch 23. Connected with the trigger-lever 8 between its fulcrum 7 and its extremity 8 is av rod 24, arranged to open a sand-box 25, allowing the sand to pass to the rail 27 through the spout 26.

Journaled on one of the horizontal beams 5 and extending lengthwise thereof is a ratchet-bar 27, composed of two portions 27 and 27, occupying planes forming an angle of suitable degree. (See Fig. 6.) As shown in the drawings, this is an integral bar twisted or bent at the center to give the two parts the desired angle. These two parts of the bar are provided with ratchet-teeth extending in opposite directions. The extremities of the bar are journaled in boxes 28, attached to the beam 5. Part 8 of the trigger-lever is fashioned to engage the teeth of both parts of the ratchet-bar. Attached to the lever 8 at a point 8 is a spring 29, whose opposite extremity is connected with the beam 5, as shown at 30. Attached to the bar 27 is an arm 31, which engages the forked extremity 32 of an arm 32, attached to the top of the fender 33. This fender is of ordinary construction, pivoted at its upper extremity, as shown at 34, its body portion being supported by two cables 35, suitably attached at their forward extremities to the side rails of the fender and merging at their rear extremities into a single cable 36, which passes through the dashboard of the car, over a roller 37, around a spool 38, formed on a spindle 39, suitably journaled in a casing 40, mounted on the platform of the car adjacent the dashboard. The upper extremity 39 of the spindle is squared to receive the socket of a crank, (not shown,) which may be employed for rotating the spindle and winding up the cable, whereby the fender is raised to its normal position. The fender is locked in the raised position by means of a ratchet-wheel 40, made fast to the spindle and normally engaging the teeth 41 of a spring-held lever 41, fulcrumed at 42 and whose long arm is arranged to be acted on by the short arm of a hand-lever 43, fulcru med at 44.

Assuming that it is necessary to drop the fender and stop the car as soon as possible, the operation is as follows: The motorman has only to pull on the lever 43 sufficiently to actuate the lever 41 and release the fender 39. The gravity of the fender then causes its body portion to drop and throws the arm 32 upwardly sufiiciently to turn the bar 27 enough to release the trigger-lever 8, which I will assume was in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2that is to say, with its part 8 in engagement with the teeth of the part 27 of the bar, the latter being then in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of the drawings. The movement of the fender-arm -32, heretofore described, turns the bar 27 the lever 8 is released the recoil of the spring 20 throws the lever to the dotted-line position in Fig. 2, it being then engaged and locked in place by the teeth of the part 27 of the ratchet-bar. This movement of the triggerlever actuates the brake-rod 9 and sets the brake. It also moves the rod 24 sufficiently to open the sand-box and allow the sand to pass to the rails of the track in front of the car-wheels. Simultaneously with this operation the switch-arm 22 is actuated by the downward pull of the cord 20 suificiently to cut off the current from the car. Hence by' means of my improved construction every available safety appliance is operated and utilized by the single actof giving the handlever 43 a-slight pull. As soon as the fender is raised, which is done by turning the spindle 39 to wind the cable 36 around the spool 38, the arm 32 moves downward sufliciently to give a partial rotation to the ratchetfbar 27 in a direction the reverse of its former movement, whereby the teeth 'of the part 27 of the ratchet-bar are disengaged from the lever 8. By this reverse movement of the bar the teeth of the part 27 of the bar are returned to their normal position ready to engage the trigger-lever, which is set by inserting the foot in the stirrup or loop 19 and forcing the latter downward, which not only returns the lever to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, but also closes the sandbox and releases the switch-arm 22 by virtue of the construction and arrangements heretofore described.-

The position of the teeth on both parts of the ratchet-bar is such that the lever slips over the teeth when moving in one direction, but is locked against movement in the opposite direction until the bar is turned to release the lever, as heretofore described.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a car, its fender and a brake-rod, of spring-actuated brakeapplying mechanism connected with the brake-rod, means for locking said mechanism in a predetermined position, and a suitable connection between the locking means and the fender, whereby the dropping of the latter releases the brake-setting devices.

2. The combination with a car, a fender and a brake-rod,ot' means for operating the brakerod, means for locking said brake-rod-operating means in a predetermined position, and a suitable connection between the fender and said locking means whereby the dropping of the fender releases the brake-operating devices.

3. The combination with a car, a fender,and a brake-rod, of a spring-actuated lever connected with the brake-rod, means for locking said lever in the operative position, and asuitable connection between the locking means and the fender, whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever.

, 4. The combination with a car, a fender, brake mechanism and a sand-box, of a springactuated lever connected with the sand-box and the brake mechanism, means for looking said lever in the operative position,and a suitable connection between the fender and the locking means whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever.

5. The combination with a car,a fender, and an electric switch mounted on the car, of a spring-actuated lever, a connection between the lever and the switch, means for locking, the lever in the operative position, and a connection between the locking means and the fender whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever.

6. The combination with a car,a fender, and a sand-box, of a spring-actuated lever, a connection between the lever and the sand-box, means for locking the lever in the operative position, and a connection between the looking means and the fender, whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever.

7. The combination with a car, a fender, brake mechanism, a sand-receptacle and an electric switch, of a spring-actuated lockinglever, a connection between the lever, the brake mechanism, the sand-receptacle and the switch, means for locking the lever in the operative position and a connection between the lockin g means and the fender whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever.

S. The combination with a car, a fender and a brake-rod, of a spring-actuated lever connected with the brake-rod, means for locking said lever in the operative position, a suitable connection between the locking means and the fender whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever, and suitable means for resetting the lever.

9. The combination with a car, a fender and brake mechanism, of a spring-actuated trigger-lever fulcrumcd on the car and connected with the brake mechanism, a rocking ratchetbar also mounted on the car to lock the lever in the position to place the spring under tension and a suitable connection between the fender and the bar, whereby the dropping, of the fender releases the lever by employing a partial rotation of the bar.

10. The combination with a car, its fender and brake mechanism, of a locking-bar provided with two parts occupying dilferent planes, and provided with oppositely-disposed ratchet-teeth, a spring-actuated trigger-lever fnlcrumed on the car and arranged to alternately engage the two sets of ratchet teeth, and a suitable connection between the fender and the ratchet-bar whereby the movement of the fender turns the bar and disengages its teeth from the lever.

11. The combination with a car, its fender and suitable appliances for stopping the car, of a spring-actuated lever connected with said appliances, means for locking the lever in a predetermined position and a suitable connection between the fender and the looking means whereby the dropping of the fender releases the lever permitting the latter to operate the car-stopping appliances.

12. The combination with a car, its fender and suitable emergency-stop appliances, of a spring-actuated lever connected with said appliances, a rocking ratchet-bar for locking the lever in a predetermined position, and a suitable connection between the ratchet-bar and the fender whereby the dropping of the fender turns the bar and releases the lever. I

13. The combination with a car, its fender and suitable emergency-stop devices, of a spring-actuated trigger-lever connected with said devices, a rocking ratchet-bar arranged to lock the lever in the desired position, an arm connected with said bar and an arm attached to the fender and engaging said arm of the ratchet-bar, whereby the movement of the fender rocks the bar and releases the lever.

14. The combination with a car, its fender and suitable emergency-stop devices, of a spring-acutated lever connected with said devices, a ratchet-bar having two parts occupying different planes and provided with oppositely-disposed teeth adapted to engage the lever, an arm attached to the bar, an arm at tached to the fender and provided with a forked extremity engaging said ratchet-bar arm, whereby the movement of the fender rocks the ratchet-bar and releases the lever.

15. The combination with a car, and emergency-stop devices mounted thereon, of a spring-actuated trigger-lever connected with said devices, a rocking ratchet-bar for locking the said lever in the desired position, and suitable means for rocking the bar and releasing the lever.

16. The combination with a car and suitable emergency-stop devices, of a spring-actuated lever connected with said devices, means for locking the lever in'a predetermined position, means for releasing the lever, allowing the latter to operate the said devices and means for resetting the lever, comprisinga cord or cable connected with the lever at one extremity, its opposite extremity being provided with a depending stirrup.

17. The combination with a car, a fender and brake mechanism adapted to engage the wheels of the car, of spring-actuated brakesetting devices connected with said brake mechanism, means for locking said brakesetting devices in a predetermined position, and a suitable connection between the look ing means and the fender whereby the dropping of the latter releases the brake-setting devices.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

\Vitnesses:

IsHAM R. Howzn, GRACE MYTINGEB. 

